The Walgreens store at 4520 W. North Ave. on the north side of the City of Milwaukee closed last week.
“Walgreens has operated this store for 30 years and the decision to close it was not easy,” said Walgreens spokesman James Graham. “Please be assured the community will remain well served by Walgreens. Prescription files will automatically transfer to our store about one mile east on W. North Ave., at the corner of W. North and 27th St. Customers need take no action; the transfer is automatic and that store looks forward to serving them. We expect to place most of that store’s employees in jobs at other area Walgreens stores. Walgreens remains fully committed to that neighborhood of Milwaukee and we will continue to operate five stores within a 2-mile radius of that location. We will always be the strong community partner and supporter that Milwaukee has known us to be. Walgreens also operates a 24-hour store 1.7 miles away at 35th and Wisconsin Avenue. Most of our store closures that are occurring this year are due to the negative impact from the increased density of other Walgreens stores in the trade area or other changes over time to the store’s trade area. You can see we have a number of stores serving that area of Milwaukee.”
“I was told the store has been losing money and is not meeting the sales numbers necessary to keep it open,” Alderman Russell W. Stamper II said in a news release.
Stamper said he plans to work with neighbors and the business community to address the store closure. He will host a community meeting at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 16 at The SOS Center, 4620 W. North Ave. to discuss concerns, suggestions and next steps for the building.
“This Walgreens has been an important business in the area for many years, and my family and I have shopped there for years,” he said. “It’s conveniently located, and many people rely on it for getting medications and other items, including groceries. It’s definitely a loss for the community, and I’m very disappointed they are leaving so suddenly.”
Stamper said he will work with the Walgreens real estate division to help market the building and prevent blight and underuse. He said the Department of City Development and the West North Avenue Business Improvement District will also be involved in the effort to find a new, suitable tenant for the location.
“I will be working diligently with the community and all interested stakeholders to get the lights turned back on at that location,” he said.
